Quarterback Joe Burrow boasts a spectacularly long list of accolades. One of them includes an impressive run at LSU. His head-turning success in the NFL has also brought him into the MVP conversation. However, he continues to be snubbed from one notable list of top athletes by LSU alumnus Shaquille O’Neal, even though Angel Reese made it. While Burrow, the CFP National Champion, has earned much praise from the basketball legend, he was once again excluded from O’Neal’s list of the greatest LSU athletes.

Though O’Neal is the biggest supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals player, when it came to naming LSU’s top men’s athlete, he didn’t name himself or Burrow. Instead, he gave the honor to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. Following that, the 4x NBA champion named himself as second in line. 

“I would have to go with Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. He would be number one. Two is either myself or Ricky Blanton. I’m just fortunate enough to have my name mentioned in it. Baton Rouge, that was a place where I developed the character known as Shaq,” he said in an interview with RG. 

And this isn’t even the first time. O’Neal has previously mentioned LSU’s greatest athlete. He admitted that, while there are several notable men and women athletes to consider, he gave the title to Angel Reese for her 2023 National Championship win.

“She delivered. She delivered that package. See, a lot of us have got the package and we still got the package in our truck. So, you know, there’s a lot of names you could throw around, men and women, but she’s probably the greatest athlete,” O’Neal said on The Big Podcast.

While O’Neal did mention Burrow as a contender, he felt the NFL player wasn’t as athletic as Reese. Since being drafted as the No. 1 pick by the Cincinnati Bengals, Burrow has continued to grow his resume, but Shaquille O’Neal has yet to give him the honor. Do you think O’Neal is right? And who is the basketball legend Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, whom O’Neal didn’t hesitate to mention before him? 

Who is Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf? 

For those who don’t know, the 2x Mississippi Mr. Basketball was one of the greatest athletes at LSU. He was a consensus First-Team All-American each year during his time with the Tigers. Abdul-Rauf was drafted as the No. 3 pick by the Denver Nuggets in 1990 and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. 

He had impressive dunking skills and even won the NBA Most Improved Player Award. The jersey No. 35 that he wore while playing for LSU was later retired in 2020. Watching his jersey retired in the Tiger is always special for O’Neal but he is always reminded of Abdul-Rauf’s legacy.

“And then to be able to walk into the Tiger Dome and see my jersey retired is great. But Aubdul-Rauf was always someone I watched closely who was great. Greater than me. That title definitely goes to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf,” the Los Angeles Lakers legend said. This is the reason why he feels that the 2x SEC Player of the Year deserves this honor.